The first book in the series, Elvis, Me, and the Lemonade Stand Summer, won the City of Victoria Children’s Book Prize and the Jean Little First-Novel Award.

Winter rains have swept into Eagle Shores Trailer Park, and Truly is happily settling into a new life.

A new home with Andy El, the Salish elder who took her in. A new responsibility to look after her new puppy, Gracie. A new passion for playing her not-quite-new guitar — gifted to her by Elvis Presley, the thought-to-be-dead King of Rock ’n’ Roll and Truly’s pen pal.

But then Clarice returns, asking for a second chance at being Truly’s mom.

Has Clarice really changed? Can Truly ever forgive her? And if so, will she have to give up this new life with Andy El to move back in with Clarice?

Truly has a lot to write to Elvis about this winter!

Leslie Gentile’s debut novel, Elvis, Me, and the Lemonade Stand Summer (2021), won the City of Victoria Children’s Book Prize, the Jean Little First-Novel Award, and has been short-listed for ten other awards. Leslie is also a singer/songwriter and performs with two of her adult children in The Leslie Gentile Band. Leslie lives on Vancouver Island on the traditional territory of the W- SÁNEĆ people with her husband and a German shepherd who is convinced that he’s a lapdog. Though not connected with a specific nation, Leslie is of Indigenous and settler heritage, and has Salish, Tuscarora, and Scottish ancestry.

Leslie Gentile's profile page

“Elvis, Me, and the Postcard Winter is a touching novel that illuminates challenges within parent-child dynamics as a girl pursues personal belonging.”

Foreword Reviews

“There are moments throughout [Elvis, Me, and the Postcard Winter] that embody this ‘heart’ that fills the work. The love of the neighbours who have chosen to share their home with Truly is such a gift and example of how community should be. The reader knows, even if Truly doesn't quite yet, that this gift will always be love and heart that she can count on.”

The BC Review